timeless simplicity and a perfect palette: at home with alyson fox

Photography by MOLLY WINTERS An outdoor shower—inspired by one Fox saw on her honeymoon in Kauai—features industrial fixtures against a simple stucco wall. CROCHETED HANGING PLANTER by Kati Von Lehman $100 themiaproject.com x3 WATERING CAN by Paul Loebach $67 kontextur.com FOR INSPIRATION IN BUILDING HER ARTFUL TEXAS HOME,…

STILL LIFE

Nearly four years ago, after spending half a decade living in bustling central Austin, artist and textile designer Alyson Fox decided it was time for a true change of scenery. Fox, a Texas native—who regularly collaborates with the designers from Hawkins New York on textiles and furniture—and her husband, Derek Dollahite, opted to buy a stretch of land across a 20-foot ridge in nearby rural Spicewood. They then spent much of 2013 designing and building their ranch-style dream home from scratch. Along with the help of her brother-in-law, Blake Dollahite, the family forged a modern glass house inspired by the surrounding landscape. The layout includes a door in every room that leads directly outside, as well as a front-facing window with generous views of the rugged countryside. The couple spent the bulk of their modest budget bringing in glass and locally sourced fir wood to form eco-minded walls in all the main living spaces. “Environment informed everything about the home from start to finish,” Fox explains. “Timeless materials and a simple layout can’t compete with a gorgeous view.”

Photography by MOLLY WINTERSPhotography by MOLLY WINTERS

A vintage library table Fox found on Etsy is paired with a shapely stool of her own design.

SHAPES STOOL IN WOOD by Alyson Fox from $500 alysonfox.com

Photography by MOLLY WINTERS

Storage shelves are left open and exposed to help keep items clean and curated in the kitchen.

Photography by MOLLY WINTERS

CREATIVE FREEDOM

Much like its blueprint, the interior draws heavily from the exterior landscape. A neutral palette of warm wood, concrete, and crisp white earth tones allow for colorful prints and enticing textures: Polished concrete floors, custom brass cabinetry, lush hanging plants, and ceramic-tiled walls offer unexpected moments of shine and texture. The sparseness also allows the home to double as a creative space for Fox to experiment with some of her latest ideas and designs. “I try out all of my objects in different rooms to play with context, and I’m always moving things around to start a new conversation,” Fox explains. Along with rotating artwork and furniture, she frequently reinvents the rooms with resourceful yet elevated edits—rearranged sofas, salvaged appliances, copper-covered doorways, and flea market finds—to keep the home feeling thoughtful and curated. “Things are always shifting, but the environment stays the same,” Fox adds. “The beautiful bones and views of this place make it easy to constantly reimagine its inside.”

Photography by MOLLY WINTERSPhotography by MOLLY WINTERS

Fox used a sharp sheet of copper sheath to conceal an unsightly water-heater door.

Photography by MOLLY WINTERS

“AS A DESIGNER, I LIKE TO KEEP THINGS PARED DOWN; I’M CONSTANTLY EDITING.”

Photography by MOLLY WINTERS

TILE American Olean Satinglo by Lowes lowes.com

Photography by MOLLY WINTERSPhotography by MOLLY WINTERS

“Bedrooms should be really calm,” Fox says. “Just the bare essentials: a bed, a bookshelf, and plants.”